Health Care Coveage Should be Affordable to Individuals and Families

3.       Health care coverage should be affordable to individuals and families:  Cost is one of the most important barriers to people accessing health care. A strong universal coverage plan should ensure that costs are minimized and reasonable for all Americans. 

                                Grading Rubric 

Honors	Pass	Fail	Truant
The plan will cost less than 5% of annual household income.	The plan will cost between 5%-10% of annual household income.	The plan would put families at risk for incurring health care costs greater than 10% of annual household income.	No plan is offered.

 

Criteria for review: Every American should have access to an insurance premium that they can afford.  This means that financial assistance will be necessary for lower-income individuals and families. Co-pays and deductibles present a barrier to care for low-income people. They tend to discourage people from obtaining necessary medical care. We oppose co-payments that impose significant financial barriers to care. (This rubric does not address the issue of paying for long-term care.)

 

Democrats

 

Obama: P

The Obama plan will offer income-related federal subsidies to individuals and families to purchase health insurance.  Federal subsidies will partially reimburse employers for catastrophic health care costs if the employers guaranteed that premium savings would be used to reduce employee premiums.  Insurance plans in the Exchange must charge a "fair and stable" premium that is not rated on the basis of health status and justify above-average premium increases.  Preventive services will be provided with minimal co-pays or deductibles.  The plan receives a passing grade rather than an honors grade because it lacks the details on the size of the subsidies or the definition of "affordable."

 

Republicans

 

McCain: F+

The McCain plan offers a $2500 tax credit to individuals ($5000 for families) to encourage the purchase of insurance.  States will be required to provide a financial "risk adjustment" bonus to high-cost and low-income families to supplement tax credits and Medicaid funds.  The plan receives a failing grade because it is likely, that for many families, the tax credit will not be sufficient to enable them to afford health insurance.  Additionally, the plan is silent on the extent to which co-pays will impact individuals and families seeking care.  *It should be noted, however, that the financial "risk adjustment" proposal is an innovative idea that may offer important protection to low-income families depending upon the specifics of implementation.